October 12, 2009

Heirloom Pumpkins and Squash in Stockbridge, MassachusettsI and Pam Eveleigh at the Red Lion Inn, Stockbridge, MAGiant Pumpkins in front of the Red Lion Inn, Stockbridge, MA.It's been a busy week, but since we sort of like to be busy, it's OK. Besides, today is Columbus Day in the US, and a Holiday, so I have the day off. Back in April, we we're asked if we wouldn't mind hosting Primula (Primrose) expert, Pam Eveleigh, as she skipped between NARGS chapters ( North American Rock Garden Society), while on the Fall NARGS speaker's tour. We knew of Pam only from her fabulously informative web site Primula World, which is quickly becoming the source for accurate information and up-to-date photo images of Primula.

Pam travels around the globe to study Primula, and she is often asked to contribute her botanical expertise on expeditions most recently to China and the Himalaya's with the Kunming Botanical Institute. She is an accomplished photographer, and her images are some of the very best ever taken of many species, even beyond the clan of Primroses. Be sure to visit her site. Pam stayed with us Friday and Saturday, and we then drove her to the Berkshires where she presented a talk and slide show entitled the Genus Primula, to both the Berkshire Chapter of NARGS, and, the New England Chapter of the American Primula Society. The talk, which was very informative had amazing images of some primula rarely photographed in the wilds of China and Tibet. One chapter member even told me that he thought that she was one of the best speakers that they have ever hosted.A white gourd dangles from a rustic pergola at the Berkshire Botanic GardenSeed pod from a Magnolia macrophylla looks a bit like an artichoke.Joe ( President of the American Primrose Society, 'father's' over the Rockwellian table during our lunch at the Red Lion ( notice the small, framed Rockwell on the wall to his left).

Before we arrived at the Berkshire Botanic Garden, we met some friends from the N.E. Primula Society in Stockbridge, MA, at the Red Lion Inn. The waiter asked us if we realized that the large table was the inspiration for local artist Norman Rockwell's famous painting (see below). WHo know;s if this is urban legend or truth, but we had a chuckle. It was a beautiful autumn day in New England, and I suppose there was no place many of us would have rather been, than sitting in the lobby of the Red Lion Inn, in vintage sofas, crackling wood fire, and brisk, cold New England air outside. Apple Crisp anyone?Last night was also our first frost of the season, so we spent much of the day, moving heavy clay pots into the greenhouse. Notice how some of the bulbous Oxalis are starting to bloom in the sand, plunge bench.Agave's and other tender plants are starting their journey into winter, in the cold glasshouse.Last chance for fresh veggies before the killing frost. I quickly decide to save some chili peppers and tomatoes on my way back in from the greenhouse, as I pass through the veg garden. Rosemary was for the lamb roast, tonight.I promised myself that I was going to edit what was going to go back into the greenhouse for the winter, since I wanted to leave room for some new plants. So I let my Begonia collection freeze to death. It was SO hard! Although, I saved this one. For now!Here is what greeted me in the kitchen this morning, one of our ducks, let himself in. He has to walk up 10 steps on the deck, and then through the open door on the porch, and then the kitchen. Fergus and Margaret just sat and watched him. He wanted to be fed, I suppose. He is one of the baby ducklings we hartched earlier this summer.